I Ended Up Snatching a Marriage With the Male Lead! - Chapter 74

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I’d eloped with the male lead.
Episode 74

* * *

“Congratulations, Samuel.”
Emilia set down the documents with a bright smile.
Ever since contracting with a newly discovered merchant guild to supply the ore needed for his technology, matters had proceeded at breakneck speed.
Now only the commercialization phase remained.
As business liaison, Emilia’s work was essentially complete.
‘I feel a little bittersweet about it.’
Still, from the Ardel Family’s perspective, rapid progress was far preferable.
The technology needed commercialization before it could generate profit.
In a few years, the Ardel Family wouldn’t need to worry about putting food on the table.
They were even said to be the most remarkable among families receiving business support.
It was deeply gratifying for her as well.
“Thank you. Grandfather is quite pleased as well.”
Samuel said this while scratching his head awkwardly.
But Emilia couldn’t help tilting her head.
“Is something troubling you?”
Samuel’s complexion seemed dark for some reason.
At her concerned question, Samuel’s shoulders flinched.
“I… ah, no. It’s nothing.”
Samuel answered quickly.
As he did, he recalled the day of his first visit to the Duke’s Mansion.
While speaking with Emilia, the Duke had suddenly burst through the door.
When he called Samuel out and spoke to him about the budget with an icy expression, he’d wondered if something was irritating him.
But now, thinking back, he thought he understood the reason.
‘He must have had feelings for her even then.’
Samuel hung his shoulders and lowered his gaze. He’d been reaching for a tree he could never climb.
Sadly, now he could never suggest sharing tea with her outside for the rest of his life.
“Samuel?”
When Emilia’s voice reached him again, tinged with confusion, Samuel shook his head as if casting something off.
And with bittersweet feelings hidden, he managed a smile.
There was something he’d wanted to tell her anyway.
“Flora mentioned that you provided substantial funds.”
He’d been astonished to see such a magnificent greenhouse rise in the garden.
But that wasn’t where it ended.
Various seeds had been delivered to the Mansion, and even someone as knowledgeable as Samuel had never seen most of them before.
When he learned their prices, Samuel was even more stunned.
Later, he discovered that all of this was possible thanks to Emilia’s research funding support.
“I’m grateful beyond words for your concern toward our family.”
In truth, he’d been concerned about Flora.
When she heard that his technology had passed business support review, she’d embraced Grandfather and celebrated with him, but at the same time she couldn’t hide her envy.
Samuel bowed deeply, his gratitude evident.
Then Emilia let out a soft hum.
“Actually, Samuel. What concerns Flora shouldn’t come with thanks to you.”
“Pardon? Well, even so…”
But Emilia spoke with firm resolve.
“While it’s true I met Flora through you, my decision to support her research is an entirely separate matter.”
Samuel blinked at those words.
“I was truly captivated by her research. I also believed her work is exactly what the world needs.”
Emilia smiled brightly.
“So I don’t think I should accept your thanks.”
At her firm words, Samuel felt his heart swell unexpectedly.
Because her support hadn’t stemmed from mere goodwill, but entirely from her faith and expectations in his sister’s research.
As someone who cheered for Flora’s work more than anyone, Samuel couldn’t help but be glad.
Then Emilia added with a playful tone.
“And I’m not really the soft-hearted type. When Flora makes her fortune, I’ll definitely recover my investment handsomely.”
“Ha, I see.”
Laughter spilled from Samuel’s lips at her ambitious words.
At the same time, he felt his heart sink once more.
He brought a hand to his chest.
‘This won’t do.’
If he stayed in her presence any longer, he feared he’d develop ungrateful feelings.
Sensing the danger, Samuel hastily ended the conversation.
Just as he was about to stand—
Knock, knock.
A sound at the reception room door.
Emilia responded, and the door opened slightly as Flora peeked her head in.
“Are you finished talking?”
“Oh, Flora. Yes, we’re done.”
As Emilia welcomed her, Flora spoke brightly.
“Then I’d like to swap places with my brother!”
She scurried into the reception room.
And she gave a pat on the back of her brother as he passed by with a dispirited face.
But since further sympathy would be a luxury among blood relations, she sat down without hesitation on the sofa across from Emilia.
Click.
The door closed, and with only the two of them remaining, Emilia gently asked Flora.
“Um, Flora. Did something happen with Samuel?”
Though Samuel had insisted nothing was wrong, his forlorn figure as he left the reception room had troubled her.
“Ha, well…”
Flora trailed off.
She glanced at the door with a sympathetic look, then shook her head.
“It’s really not something you need to worry about, Emilia!”
“Really?”
“Of course. They say one becomes stronger by bearing heartbreak alone.”
It was treatment even harsher than she gave her plants.
“More importantly, that’s not what matters right now!”
“Hmm?”
Flora spoke to Emilia with barely contained excitement.
“I’ve successfully completed a Breed Improvement in the new greenhouse!”
“My goodness, truly?”
“Yes, so I’m thinking it would be nice to try growing it in barren soil…”
Soon Flora’s cheerful chatter filled the reception room.

* * *

Meanwhile, at that same moment.
Kaliana emerged from the Duke’s office and released a sigh of relief.
On the day she’d gone to protest to the Parizinan Merchant Guild master and been turned away.
She’d received what amounted to an unofficial commission from the Duke through a chance encounter.

“Could you uncover the Parizinan Merchant Guild master’s misconduct and relay it to me?”

With the compensation she received, she’d been able to put out her immediate fires.
After that, Kaliana scoured together evidence related to the Parizinan master’s corruption and fraud based on what she’d seen and heard.
Since he’d wronged not one or two merchant guilds and families, the work had been quite smooth—
‘I didn’t know I had talent for this sort of thing.’
Upon realizing this was her aptitude, she’d even briefly regretted not becoming an information broker instead of a merchant.
Kaliana recalled the Duke as he reviewed the materials she’d submitted, nodding silently.
The results appeared to have met his expectations.
Seeing his expression, Kaliana couldn’t restrain her curiosity and asked.

“Um… Your Grace. May I ask what the Parizinan master did to displease you?”

The Duke replied plainly, as if it were trivial.

“He wagged his tongue carelessly.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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